Pennsylvania news: 5 things to know for today

HERSHEY, Pa. (AP) — Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about in Pennsylvania on Thursday:

1. MEGAN’S LAW HEARING FOR LONGTIME PATZ SUSPECT

The man long suspected in the 1979 disappearance of a New York City boy will be in a Pennsylvania courtroom on a Megan’s Law charge related to his release from prison last week. Sixty-nine-year-old Jose Antonio Ramos had been a prime suspect in the disappearance of Etan Patz for many years before another man was charged with his kidnapping and murder on Wednesday.

2. NO BLUFFING ON PHILLY CASINO APPLICATIONS

Advertisement

Bids are due by the end of the day from at least five groups vying to build Philadelphia’s second casino. Proposals range from a second gaming hall on the Delaware River to an ambitious proposal to convert a former newspaper headquarters into a casino, hotel and shopping destination.

3. DISLOCATED RIB AT HEART OF BIG BEN’S TROUBLES

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is out indefinitely because doctors are concerned a dislocated rib could puncture his aorta if he takes a bad hit. Roethlisberger suffered the injury in Monday night’s overtime win but will be replaced in the starting lineup by Byron Leftwich for Sunday’s game against AFC North-leading Baltimore.

4. HERSHEY STUDENT WORKERS GET JUST DESERTS

Three companies agreed in a settlement Wednesday to pay more than $213,000 in back wages to hundreds of foreign students for summer jobs they held at a Hershey candy company facility. More than 100 workers staged a protest last year at a Hershey-owned warehouse, saying they took the jobs thinking they were part of a cultural exchange. Hershey was not cited for violations because it had contracted out the operation to another company.

5. AUDITOR GENERAL RECOMMENDS PENN STATE BOARD OVERHAUL

State Auditor General Jack Wagner wants Penn State to dramatically change the way its governing structure is organized in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal. Wagner recommended Wednesday the governor and university president no longer hold voting positions on the school’s board of trustees. He also argued the state’s Right-to-Know Law should fully extend to Penn State and three other state-related schools.